Emotional intelligence and clinical interview performance of dental students.

One hundred and sixteen third-year dental students participating in a consultation skills course in Dunedin, New Zealand, completed a standardized psychometric Social Skills Inventory (SSI) and were assessed by tutors, simulated patients, and themselves. Students with higher social skills abilities obtained higher performance scores and demonstrated better interview structure. Patients reported being more likely to return to students for a dental consultation following the second interview, and students' consultation skills were rated (by tutors, patients, and students) higher at the end of the course than the beginning.

A qualitative investigation of the experiences of immigrant dentists working in New Zealand.

Objectives: To determine the nature of problems experienced by overseas-trained dentists settling in New Zealand (NZ), and to ascertain what can be done to improve their experiences.

Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Subjects And Methods: A convenience sample of fourteen overseas-qualified dentists was selected and individuals invited to participate in a semi-structured interview.

Gender differences in dentists' working practices and job satisfaction.

Objectives: To describe the working practices and level of job satisfaction of male and female dentists.

Methods: A nationwide postal survey of all dentists holding an annual practising certificate in New Zealand (response rate 78.1%).

Amelogenesis imperfecta--multidisciplinary management from eruption to adulthood. Review and case report.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a group of hereditary conditions that affect enamel formation. It is associated with a high morbidity for the patients and may present major restorative and sometimes orthodontic challenges for the dental team. Early recognition followed by appropriate preventive and restorative care is essential in the successful management of AI.

Outcomes two, three and four years after comprehensive care under general anaesthesia.

Objectives: The objective was to review the outcomes for three groups of children after two, three and four years following comprehensive dental treatment under general anaesthesia (GA) for 292 children aged 1.8 to 5.9 years of age.

A communication skills course for undergraduate dental students.

Sixty-seven third-year dental students in Dunedin, New Zealand, participated in a communication skills course, using simulated patients, case-based scenarios, videotaped interviews, and class roleplays. The course introduced active listening techniques, taking a medical history, and emotion-handling skills. This course was adapted from an existing course for medical students run by the Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.

A qualitative study of oral health knowledge and attitudes among staff caring for older people in Dunedin long-term care facilities.

Over the next few decades, the number and proportion of older New Zealanders will increase, and many will retain their natural teeth. Many older people in care will be dependent on caregivers for their oral health care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the dental knowledge and attitudes of staff caring for older people in Dunedin long-term care facilities.

Using significant event analysis in dental and medical education.

As part of a new professional development teaching strand at the University of Otago's School of Dentistry, final-year dental students were each asked to write a "thought-provoking episode report" (TPER). These TPERs formed the basis for group discussion in a professional development course. This article outlines the main content themes of the reports, comparing them with similar reports written by medical students from the same university.

Novel dental anomalies associated with congenital contractural arachnodactyly: a case report.

Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) is an inherited disorder of connective tissue similar to Marfan's syndrome. The craniofacial and oral features of a young girl with CCA are described. The patient has the typical features of CCA as well as some additional dental anomalies which have not previously been reported with this syndrome.